In TNT’s “The Closer,” Kyra Sedgwick played Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson, the talented member of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Major Crimes unit who could pull a confession from even the most challenging suspect.

One morning in December 2010, Sedgwick alerted producers that the seventh season would be her last, despite winning a Golden Globe and an Emmy for her role. The show is the only scripted series to rank No. 1 among basic cable shows for five consecutive years, from 2005-2009.

Instead of canceling the show, James Duff, creator of “The Closer,” was asked to create a spinoff. “I got a call the very next morning after Kyra told me she was leaving,” said Duff.

TNT executives changed the name to “Major Crimes,” and ordered a 10-episode series. Duff kept 81% of the cast and crew on board but quickly realized the paradigm of the show would have to shift to showcase the remaining cast members.

“Major Crimes,” will premiere at 10 p.m. on Aug. 13, immediately after “The Closer” series finale. Instead of pulling a confession, the cast of “Major crimes” will have prosecutors and detectives together looking to strike a deal, or plea bargain, with suspects.

According to Duff, the justice system in California has changed markedly in the last seven years, and he says his goal is to have “Major Crimes” reflect that change.

“There’s a limit to how much justice we can afford right now,” said Duff, “the justice system wasn’t designed to be a bargain but we are going bargain hunting.”

A plea bargain excludes all appeals; rather than a trial suspects are fast-tracked into jail after they’ve given a statement of facts and read that statement in front of a judge. It’s also a “cost-effective” alternative, according to Mr. Duff.

What’s more, it allows Duff to work a greater number of cast members into the limelight. Oscar-nominated actress Mary McDonnell will reprise her role as Capt. Sharon Raydor from Internal Affairs, this time as more of a central figure.

““Fans got a taste, but never the full meal that is the ensemble,” said Michael Wright, the president and head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies.

About Speakeasy

Speakeasy is a blog covering media, entertainment, celebrity and the arts. The publication is produced by Barbara Chai and Jonathan Welsh with contributions from the Wall Street Journal staff and others. Write to us at speakeasy@wsj.com or follow us on Twitter at @WSJSpeakeasy or individually @barbarachai.